health

There was no effective vaccine against avian influenza that was available
to the general public in late 2008, although some were undergoing clinical
trials. One of the difficulties of producing a vaccine against this type
of flu in large quantities is that the virus is so powerful that it cannot
easily be cultured in chicken eggs, which is the usual method for making
vaccines. In June 2008, the New England Journal of Medicine reported on
an experimental vaccine that produced a satisfactory immune response in
75 percent of the subjects who were injected with it. The vaccine
appeared to be safe for widespread use in humans and could be made
in cell cultures rather than in eggs.
Until an effective vaccine for avian flu is available, the most important
preventive measures people can take are to wash their hands
frequently and avoid open-air markets, raw or undercooked eggs or
poultry, and close contact with live poultry when visiting Asia or other
countries where cases of avian flu have been reported. Travelers may also
want to ask their doctor about getting a flu shot before they take their
trip. Standard flu shots will not prevent bird flu, but they can protect
people against being infected with seasonal flu.